MEETING GOVERNOR FASHOLA – WITH LETTER OF PROTEST

 

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On 20th January 2012, NBA Ikeja branch members were received by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola S.A.N and the Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye.

The branch chairman, Adebamigbe Omole on behalf of the branch first commiserated with Governor Fashola on the recent loss of his uncle and then stated its concerns: embarrassing developments in Lagos State – specifically the presence of soldiers on its streets which was a breach of the fundamental rights of the people and which was uncalled for, there being no state of emergency to warrant their (soldiers) presence and so something had to be done.

Branch Chairman Omole, a senior branch member – Mr. Femi Falana and the branch’s General Secretary, Adesina Ogunlana then presented the Letter of Protest to Governor Fashola. Thanking the Bar for coming, the Governor stated that he had written to the President on the matter. He said politicians must learn to tolerate criticism of their policies and that the story about the soldiers being members of Operation MESA (a team created and funded by the Lagos State Government) was untrue. “Operation MESA does not occupy streets and they go about their duties in their branded vehicles, “ he stated. Governor Fashola added that Lagos state was doing something about the situation and people should remain calm and peaceful that the people of Lagos had fought and won many battles and this would be no different.

LAST WEEK OCTOBER/FIRST WEEK NOVEMBER 2007

SQUIB DIARY

 Monday 29^th October 2007

The Squib is out. Cover story  –  “Shame! High Court Judge Fights Judicial Assistant.” Promises to be a best-seller.

Was at the Lagos State Court Igbosere for an election petition matter. Later came to the Ikeja High Court. Saw Squib selling like hot ‘akara.’  

Tuesday 30^th October 2007

Was at the Lagos High Court Igbosere. For a case. Did it and left. Must say that the toilets on the corridor to the Court of Appeal, are still in fine condition. Well maintained. The ladies in charge should be commended. Moving motions in that place is no pain at all. Pleasurable really. Got to Ikeja High Court, to do some checks.

Wednesday 31^st October 2007

Was briefly at the Ikeja High Court. However was around enough to see some “Task Force Men” filiming the various shops and stalls in compound  ‘B’ of the Ikeja High Court, which truth to tell had become swamped with  business centres, food canteens, liquor sellers etc.  Thursday 1^st November 2007 Was at the Ikeja High Court. In the afternoon, saw bands of armed task force men, overturning various kiosks and stalls in compound ‘B’ of the Ikeja High Court.The owners and operators of these make-shift constructions could only looked on helplessly.  Heard feeble protestations from the owners that they were no squatters. That they were put in their positions by certain government authorities after paying certain fees.Noticed that the High Court was ‘dry’. Only few lawyers around. The Lagos State High Courts have turned into a ghost town. Hundreds, if not thousands of non-part heard cases still remain un-assigned to judges. How tragic! Even for freshly filed cases, it’s taking weeks before the RECORDS SECTION takes them to the Administrative Judge to assign them to various judges, even fundamental right actions. Tragically wonderful. Yet the NBA seems unperturbed. Alas! 

 Friday 2^nd November 2007

Was at the Ikeja High Court. Saw that the vendors and kiosk owners temporarily displaced yesterday by KAI Task Force man had  bounced back. Very much back in their different places, they were. Was informed of the plight of a barrister, Adebowale Adesina locked up by the police at Pedro Police Station. The lawyer’s offence? Police claimed he was obstructing the execution of a court order. Got there with two other Tigers, Dare Akande {leader} and Biyi. Met lawyer Adesina already released. Seems an interesting matter, though.                         

3rd Week in October 2007

SQUIB DIARY
Monday 15^th October 2007        Squib’s out.
Cover story “What’s the worth of a Doctor’s Life, a revisit of the C.O.P. Vs Ibinabo Fiberesima case. Was at the Lagos High Court, specifically Justice Adebisi Kayode-Ogunmekan’s Court. Nice ambience, in the court. Furniture, floor tiles, lighting; air-conditioning, now very okay. Pray they last. Tuesday 16^th October 2007        Was not in court today.  Went to the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri. As a visitor, of course.  Silly. Saw my Dad, today. Daddy 3, I mean. The old guy still pushing himself so hard, even at 76. Old school, hard-as-flint folks always like that. Can you imagine Daddy 3 still burning midnight candles preparing cases? Since he cannot change by himself, I pray, here and now – “Oh God, help touch my Daddy, so that he can slow down. Thank you God for answered prayers.” Wednesday 17^th October 2007        Was at the Ikeja High Court. Saw groups of law students from the Lagos State University {LASU} in some courts. They came to watch proceedings. Learnt from their leaders that the visit was strictly a students’ initiative. Commendable I say.Noticed a ‘Pool of Siloam’ on the corridor of Justice Obadina’s court. The source of the pool is a leak from one of the pipes taking condensed  water away from the air conditioning engines in the court room. Messy, quite messy a pool, growing green moss. Somebody may slip there, one of these days.Geckos report an incident between a lawyer and his driver at the Court of Appeal. The lawyer’s case was struck out by the court because of his absence. Yet, the lawyer was very much about in the court premises but could not appear in the court room. Reason – his driver bringing his wig and gown did not arrive the court in time. Claimed traffic jam, lawyer was not appeased. Driver got the sack.  Instanta. The lawyer?  Ladi Williams S.A.N. Thursday 18^th October 2007        Was at the Ikeja High Court. Rather dull in the courts today. Only few lawyers about. The courts are dry these days since the new legal year. Reason is obvious. The High Courts and Magistrate Courts have not been sitting full force. Many courts still undergoing renovation. But not Patricia Etteh style. Friday 19^th October 2007        Wonders shall never end. Heard that at the Lagos High Court, only one judge Toyin Taiwo J. sat today. Heard that many of the others took the day off to be with Honourable Justice Oke-Lawal who was marking her birthday. Incredible? This can’t be true. Ha!              

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First Week October 2007

SQUIB DIARY by Adesina Ogunlana http://www.squibanticorruption.com

FIRST WEEK OCTOBER 2007
Monday 1st October 2007
Public Holiday. Nigeria’s Independence Day. SQUIB under production.

Tuesday 2nd October 2007
Squib’s out. Cover Story on the investigation of the House of Assembly on the financial accounts of the Lagos State Judiciary.

Was at the Lagos High Court. Received a shock in Honourable Justice Kayode Ogunmekan’s court. The shocker was that less than two weeks after the court’s newly completed floor was completed, it was already cracking up! Attended the special valedictory court session for late Sobo Sowemimo SAN at the foyer of the Lagos High Court.

Wednesday 3rd October 2007
Was at the Lagos High Court for an election petition matter. Otunba Abimbola Adegbesan vs. INEC and Ors. Witnessed an infuriated lawyer (whose car was blocked by one of the new Lagos Judiciary Staff buses at the car park) and a security man. In fact, the bus blocked off no less than six other cars. The infuriated lawyer was mad with the security man for allowing the driver of the bus to park the way he did and walk away! The security man claimed helplessness in the circumstances. Thought the counsel was right and wrong at the same time. Right in his points, but wrong, very wrong in shouting and screaming abuses, even maledictions in the court premises. A classic “Agbero” (motor park tout) protest act. Not good enough comportment for a counsel with over a decade of practice at the bar. You want to know the counsel? Sorry but won’t satisfy your curiosity.

Thursday 4th October 2007
Nowhere near the courts today. Went to Kirikiri. The Max. Met with one or two clients there. While waiting at the rustic reception point to see the clients, witnessed routine extortion of other visitors to the place by warders on security duty there. Applications to see inmates are processed for a fee. Subtle intimidation and cajolery of people were routine by the warders to get some bucks. Are their superiors unaware of this ugly and shameful exercise? At the Lagos High Court, another valedictory session was held for another departed silk – Olatunji Lardner SAN. Learnt that Governor Raji Fashola SAN came to Ikeja High Court to present new vehicles to fourteen (14) magistrates. Lucky chaps. All their other colleagues had collected their own cars about two years ago. Well, better late than never. Say?

Friday 5th October 2007
Was at the Ikeja High Court. Was in Justice J.O.K Oyewole’s court. Saw how the court freed a young woman prosecuted by the EFCC on an 8 count charge. Hardly had the judge pronounced her not guilty that the stunned girl bolted out of the court room in unbelieving joy. Well, can you blame her? Certainly it was no easy road to freedom.

LAST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER

SQUIB DIARY By Adesina Ogunlana http://www.squibanticorruption.com

Monday 24th September 2007

The Squib’s out. The first in the year. Cover Story: Tiger’s New Legal Year 2007 statement.
Was at the Ikeja High Court and saw many lawyers moving about like sheep without a shepherd.
Not only were many courts undergoing belated renovation, virtually all the judges have been reposted from their divisions. The effect? Confusion. Not a few wondered at the timing of the renovation and transfers.
To worsen things, all non-part heard matters in their scores – if not hundreds, were sent back to the Records Section for re-assignment by the Chief Judge. Of course no reassignment has been done and the earliest assurance of that being done according to Records Section is 2-4 weeks. Wonderful! What a mess, what a disaster really in terms of delaying and clogging the wheels of justice administration.

In line with the tradition here of scorning the Bar, the authorities never deemed it fit to contact, communicate with, not to talk of consulting the bar on these developments. First class geckos informed the Squib that one of the apparatchiks of the present regime, Ayo Odugbesan, a Deputy Chief Registrar pointedly told some bar leaders who came for a meeting with the Chief Judge a few weeks ago, that the Alabi administration had no need to inform the bar about any changes or developments in the Lagos Judiciary.
Wow! Bravo!
Now we know why we are where we are today.

Tuesday 25th September 2007

Rainy Day. Was Briefly at the Ikeja High Court. Left for the Ministry of Justice, specifically to the Directorate of Public Prosecution. To see the D.P.P you go there 2.00 – 4.00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Got there well within the hours stipulated this day but couldn’t get to see the official after about a fifty minute wait. By the way, there is a new D.P.P now, no longer Efunbowale Gbadebo. It’s now Adebola Okikiolu-Ighile. The same one. The former D.P.P. Bless you.

Wednesday 26th September 2007

Was at Ikeja High Court. Had the misfortune of visiting the holding cell in the court’s premises. Oh what a strong, foul odour fills the whole place. Overpowering stench, yet detainees and warders stay in there. Unbelievable. Serious health crisis imminent if that place is not cleaned up and fumigated immediately. Have been seeing some brand new Kia vehicles, about twenty in the court’s compound. Who could they be for? Magistrates?

In the afternoon, got to the lair of the Ikeja Tigers, the Bar Centre. Couldn’t use the convenience there. No water! Seems this “No water” situation is now a recurring decimal. Can’t the problem be permanently solved?

Thursday 27th September 2007

Was at the Court of Appeal Lagos. Usual lawyer’s work. What was unusual was that after the appeal was dismissed as prayed for – both appellant and respondents were happy and embraced one another and thanked the counsel too!
One day you may hear the full gist of the rather curious case involving a champertous old lawyer.

Friday 28th September 2007

Was at the Ikeja High Court. Briefly. So quiet.